And yes, these are my dogs. Updated 10_5_20 with a new lesson. I grew up with dogs, so rescuing and bringing them into my home is a no brainer. Because they are family members, yearly physicals, vaccinations, and good quality food is part of the deal. And when illness occurs, you do everything in your power to make them well and hold onto them. Or do you? The first dog I … [Read more...]
Anticipatory Grief: It’s real.
Don’t let it steal your joy in today. I’m a big believer in lessons. Even from the most unexpected places. Last week my dog got sick. He has Cushing’s, but this was different. He was lethargic, wobbly, uninterested in walks, uninterested in barking at every leaf that flies by. I took him to the vet and the short-term prognosis is good, antibiotics for his bladder infection, … [Read more...]
IMPACT is my word for 2019. How can one word change me as a caregiver, friend, and professional?
It's more than a New Years resolution. The idea of finding a word that can be my touchstone through the year intrigues me. My goal is to use that word as a lens to filter out activities, commitments and people that don’t have a positive impact in my life. As a caregiver, I rarely get to pick and choose what happens with mom, but I can make thoughtful decisions on what to … [Read more...]
“How are you?” “Mom is good, so I’m good.”
Is there anything wrong with my response? On the surface no, because it’s true. If mom is healthy, looking forward to something and feels like she is contributing to our family, she is doing well. Which means my life has less stress, so I’m doing well. The problem is, it doesn’t answer the question. “How am I doing?” This automatic response means I’m measuring my mental, … [Read more...]
How Does Your Elder Find Purpose In Their Life?
"There is quality of life in the touch of a towel and the smell of detergent.” Eloy van Hal, Founder of The Hogeweyk. Caregivers, too often we act as if our senior can no longer contribute to life at home. But modified tasks and a little help may be all it takes for them to feel worthwhile. And that leads to a quality life. I had the privilege of hearing Eloy van Hal of … [Read more...]